SAN ANTONIO FC RALLIES AT HOME TO DEFEAT RENO 1868 FC 3-2

By San Antonio FC Communications, 06/08/19, 11:00PM CDT

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Local Teenagers Lead SAFC to Comeback Victory

San Antonio FC (4-7-3) overcame a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-2 win over Reno 1868 FC (5-3-5) at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Goals from forward Ever Guzman as well as San Antonio natives Ethan Bryant and Jose Gallegos earned the Alamo City club three points at home in front of 7,467 fans.

“I’m really proud of the players for all their efforts,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “It wasn’t the best of starts by anybody’s standards and we are very disappointed with that. Ever (Guzman) got us back into the game and within striking distance right before the end of the half with a well-taken goal, and in the second half we wanted to make sure we were the aggressor and to try and come out to earn three points. I’m really proud of the resilience, the way they performed, and their commitment to doing the right things in terms of effort and actions. It was fantastic.”

Reno opened the scoring just nine minutes into the match when forward Corey Hertzog placed a one-touch finish over SAFC goalkeeper Matthew Cardone for the 0-1 lead. The visitors added their second of the night just eight minutes later after a mistake in the back found forward Cade Cowell one-on-one against Cardone, from where he slotted the ball into the net to double the lead.

SAFC cut the deficit in half just before the halftime whistle after forward Ever Guzman buried a header off a cross from defender Kai Greene to make it 1-2. The goal marked Guzman’s fifth of the season and 22nd for the club in all competitions since joining the team in August 2017, while the assist marked Greene’s first for SAFC since joining prior to the start of the 2019 campaign.

San Antonio native Ethan Bryant earned the equalizer for the hosts in the 61st minute after finding the end of a deflection from a Reno defender, which snuck past goalkeeper Matt Bersano to level the score at 2-2. The goal marked Bryant’s first of the season and second overall for the club in his first start of 2019.

SAFC midfielder Jose Gallegos then found the back of the net in the 62nd minute after midfielder Jack Barmby played him in on goal with a through-ball. The 17-year-old dribbled around a defender and buried the ball in the back of the net to score his first professional goal and give his hometown club the 3-2 lead.

With the win, SAFC extended its unbeaten run at home to six matches. The Alamo City club will return to USL Championship action on Saturday, June 15 as they visit OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium at 8 p.m. CT.

San Antonio FC midfielder Jose Gallegos recorded the first goal of his professional career, notching the go-ahead score in the 63rd minute off an assist from Jack Barmby. The assist was Barmby’s second of the year, which puts him in a tie for second-most on the Alamo City club.

SAFC forward Ever Guzman notched his team-best fifth goal of the season and sixth in all competitions in 2019. His 22 goals all-time in all competitions are the most by any SAFC player in club history.

San Antonio FC midfielder Ethan Bryant made his ninth appearance, and first start, of the 2019 USL Championship season, knotting the game at 2-2 in the 61st minute with his first goal of the year. Bryant finished the match with two shots, one on goal, and successfully converted on over 85 percent of his passes on the night. Bryant was named the SWBC Man of the Match for his performance.

Tonight’s match was the fifth all-time meeting between SAFC and Reno 1868 FC and the first meeting in 2019. SAFC improved to 2-1-0 all-time in games played at Toyota Field when facing off against Reno 1868 FC and 2-3-0 in the overall series.

The Alamo City club overcame a 2-0 deficit to secure its fourth win of the 2019 USL Championship campaign, boosting the team’s record to 4-7-3. It was the largest come-from-behind win of the year for SAFC.